Gardai Return. In October 2019 Emyvale Garda Station was burned and the damage was such that repair was not an option. It was a terrible loss to the area in so many ways. There were a number of items destroyed in that fire which can never be replaced including a Report Book going back from the present time to the first days of the Barrack in Emyvale in 1923. However the main concern for the people of the area was that there would no longer be a Barrack in Emyvale and there would be no Gardai allocated to Emyvale other than an occasional visit from Gardai from Monaghan Town. Down through the years the Gardai played a very important role in the history of the area and in the community generally. They integrated with the people and played an active role in community activity. They went about meeting people and having a chat and became well-known to the people and they got to know the people. Their presence in the area and the knowledge that they were close at hand allayed the fears on families living in the entire North Monaghan region especially those who were elderly, and more important, those who were living alone. The burning of the Barrack removed that comfort when the Gardai were stationed elsewhere and people did not feel as safe, even though patrols were carried out on a regular basis. The fact that the North Monaghan area is surrounded on three sides by the Border left people to imagine they were cut off and they were fearful of thefts and house break-ins and that the perpetrators would be far away by the time Garda support arrived from Monaghan. As a result local representatives immediately began to urge the authorities to replace the Barrack as soon as possible. We in Emyvale Development Association also made contact with the authorities, including Commissioner Drew Harris, and, as he is totally in favour of community policing, we felt that we would get our Barrack back so that Gardai would once again walk the streets of the village. Then things began to slow up and there did not seem to be any progress but recently a modular prefab cabin has been installed and this will be manned by Gardai though not 24/7. Now on Monday, January 31st the new Office was officially opened by Minister Heather Humphreys. Present at the opening were: Chief Superintendent Alan McGovern; Superintendent Patrick O’Connell; members of an Garda Siochana; the Gardai who have been assigned to Emyvale: Members of the Monaghan Joint Policing Committee, The Contractors who did the construction work; Monaghan Co Co representatives and Monaghan Councillors and Senator Gallagher. A couple of former Gardai, who were stationed in Emyvale, were present as was Fr. Hubert Martin. One very important person was also there and she is Ms. Pauline Martin, from Estate Management and who was a great help in getting the Modular Unit while we await on the rebuilding of the Barrack. That was very much on the agenda today as the Modular Unit is the first step in getting the Gardai back to the area but promises were made and we were told that a new Barrack was being planned and would be a reality for Emyvale and North Monaghan. That was welcome news and I noted that Pauline nodded positively when Supt. Pat O’Connell made that statement re. the building of a new Barracks. Lets hope that the day wont be too far away when we attend the officially opening of that Barracks. Today, as Supt O’Connell pointed out, there was no cutting of the ribbon or major celebration but that those are being kept for a proper celebration at the opening of the new Barrack. And to everyone’s delight the first customer arrived at the barrack to get forms signed - a sure sign that having the barrack there is needed. Emyvale development Association would like to thank all those involved in getting this step of progress to happen and we encourage them to continue to work towards having a proper Barrack situated there. The Opening Hours will be notified here.